糖心TV

Title: Functionality and Speciation in Boolean Networks

Abstract:

 Boolean Networks have been used to model Genetic Regulatory Networks since Stuart Kauffmann proposed them as a model in the 1960s. Early work focused on how the topology of a network influenced its dynamics. We investigate the inverse problem asking which network topologies satisfy a specified dynamic. In earlier work by A. Wagner et al [1, 2] a biological function or cell process was specified by an initial condition v(0) and an end point v ∞ in the expression state space. By so specifying a biological function one can then ask which networks perform this function. Our view is that in many cases a more appropriate means for defining a biological function would be by specifying the entire path {v(0), v(1), ..., v(T )}. We will report on how these two contrasting definitions of biological functionality lead to divergent results for their respective functional topologies, particularly regarding the implications for neutral evolution, multi-functionality and speciation.

References
[1] Ciliberti S, Martin OC, Wagner A (2007) Innovation and robustness in complex regulatory gene networks. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 104:1359113596.

[2] Martin OC, Wagner A (2008) Multifunctionality and robustness trade-offs in model genetic circuits. Biophysical Journal, 94 (8), pp. 2927-2937.